Attachment is very prevalent in most peoples’ lives. Most people are heavily attached, psychologically, to a large number of things. Attachment can give one a sense of security, safety, stability, and self-identification. People are, for example, attached to their religion, their country, their political propensities, their spouse, their house, property, and possessions. People are attached to their beliefs, their traditions, their opinions, and their prejudices. People can be attached to practicing some robotic, absurd method of meditation or mindfulness that they engage in often and that they think is just phenomenal. People are often attached to their conceptions of others and of certain groups; many are attached to the habit of endlessly pursuing pleasure; many are attached to seeing everything with (and “as”) preconceived labels and words. People, over the ages, have been attached to their anthropomorphic mental obtrusions of God and of divine beings. Many people are attached to existing in (and “as”) a competitive way of life, competing against others habitually (without question). Many are attached to football games and other sporting events (that glorify competition and survival of the fittest). Most people are heavily attached to their own images of self, that self (having a name) and being of a supposed real center.
This is all well and good… but, really, it may not be so very well and good. True freedom and profound wisdom exist beyond myriads of accepted attachments (however safe they may erroneously make one feel). Being bound by attachments causes the mind to be bound within limitations. A limited brain is not, under any circumstance, likely to be visited by the unlimited. (You can’t put the ocean in a goldfish bowl.) Little wonder, then, why so few people are ever visited by that sacrosanct eternity. Beliefs, that so very many people are deeply attached to, tend to divide the world causing much friction, fragmentation, turmoil, and even wars (which people die in, with all of the concomitant suffering). Most of us ardently cling to our attachments, because without them we are essentially nothing psychologically (and we are so very afraid of being nothing).
Innumerable many of us, without question, accept our limitations, accept our attachments, and accept our fragmentary lifestyle (which isn’t really living whatsoever). Improper education in the past, really, had a lot to do with it. We were taught to accept words (as symbols) as basically equivalent to the real thing; we exist as words and we worship these words. The world’s climate is changing rapidly like wildfire (due to human negligence and indifference). Most of us (because of habits and attachments) continue to live in (and “as”) the same patterns that have caused the problems in the first place. We must wake up and fundamentally change.
Tom's Nature-up-close Photography and Mindfulness Blog 
“ Now with the word ‘god’ there is nothing to which it refers, so each man creates his own image of that for which there is no reference” J. Krishnamurti
Since we can only think of one thing at a time we are easily encompassed and easily ignore anything outside of our radar. To not think of anything can make room for what is imageless.
Yes, Jim, to “not think of anything.” 🙂 But most are terribly afraid to intelligently exist as “not thinking.” Most worship thought/thinking and are conditioned to remain as thought/thinking.
One benefit of aging to me is losing attachments. I see the unimportant much easier.
Yes, good, Stef. Sometimes with age comes wisdom. 🙂
Yes, yes, yes! To change we must accept the need to do so …
Ah, yes, Jazz! 🙂 However, most are just happy with the status quo. There they feel safe… which isn’t really safe at all.
I’m struck by this attachment ideology because I have just spent the day clearing my upstairs of furniture (inherited) and stuff – and by most standard I have little – I live in a 600 square foot log cabin! But I do have attachments – I am attached to those glorious little mushroms in that beautiful picture, to sunrises and sunsets, oh and to RAIN, and sweet scent of water – so I am attached to earth – a part of all that is – This attachment allows me to be grateful to be alive – as long as i stay in the present. Love your posts even when we disagree although I’m not sure we are!
Your attachments, Sara, are not of the realm that we are talking about; ah, they are not even really attachments! 🙂 I admire your simple, pristine lifestyle. Doing the same inwardly — in the head, so to speak — will keep your life sweet, whole, and radiant.
Here are lyrics of a Rush song that one was listening to yesterday: (just thought to throw them in)…
Big money goes around the world
Big money underground
Big money got a mighty voice
Big money make no sound
Big money pull a million strings
Big money hold the prize
Big money weave a mighty web
Big money draw the flies
Sometimes pushing people around
Sometimes pulling out the rug
Sometimes pushing all the buttons
Sometimes pulling out the plug
It’s the power and the glory
It’s a war in paradise
A Cinderella story
On a tumble of the dice
Big money goes around the world
Big money take a cruise
Big money leave a mighty wake
Big money leave a bruise
Big money make a million dreams
Big money spin big deals
Big money make a mighty head
Big money spin big wheels
Sometimes building ivory towers
Sometimes knocking castles down
Sometimes building you a stairway
Lock you underground
It’s that old-time religion
It’s the kingdom they would rule
It’s the fool on television
Getting paid to play the fool
It’s the power and the glory
It’s a war in paradise
A Cinderella story
On a tumble of the dice
Big money goes around the world
Big money give and take
Big money done a power of good
Big money make mistakes
Big money got a heavy hand
Big money take control
Big money got a mean streak
Big money got no soul
OMG Tom, this is profound, yet psychologically confining when you stated:
‘Most of us ardently cling to our attachments, because without them we are essentially nothing psychologically.’
As creatures of habit and influence recipients we become attached to things or the thought thereof, of the emotional triggers society has seduced us cling to. In essence, we’ve become slaves to these attachments. Talk about a false sense of security! 😝
Yes, Kym, we have become slaves to these attachments, and we are these attachments. However, we can, to a significant extent, go beyond this and perceive freely and compassionately. 🙂
I agree Tom! 👍🏼
An opportune post for me. I’ve recently lost important attachments and have struggled to accept my new situation. I had no idea how significant they were to me until I lost them. However, intellectually I can see more opportunities than I ever had before. It is hard for me not to be achievement orientated, something that has given my whole life meaning in the past. Being forced to let go has untold advantages, being happy just to be. Life is a journey that will end the same way for all of us. Eventually we must leave everything behind. Accepting that goes a long way to appreciating every moment, whether I am experiencing joy or pain. For me, each experience contributes to growing wisdom, the harder the experience the greater the learning. A life without challenges is no life at all.
Glad you see something here, syrettp. 🙂 Yes, too many of us run from pain (especially psychological pain) without bonding with it and learning from it. Pain has its magical lessons and most of us were programmed to run away from it at all costs. For instance, they run away to all kinds of games and amusements but the loneliness is always there (waiting).
Right you are, Tom! Thank you for sharing your point of view.
Thank you, Susi. 🙂
You’re welcome!
Right on, Tom. Time to wake up and change.
Yes, earthskyair! 🙂 But don’t hold your breath about the change; or maybe you should… as the earthsky&air will likely remain polluted from indifference and the lack of much change.
Still hopeful, or trying to be anyway….
That is great! 🙂
Lots of attachments through the years, but they become sparse as we get on in life. We accept it and move on unfortunately. I like those spindly mushrooms reaching for the sky!
🙂 Maybe for you they get sparse, Linda, but for most people (as they age) the attachments become more and more ingrained, habitual, and occur unawares.
Christ (God), asks that I attach to him alone. ‘Jesus Christ is come in the flesh.’ My flesh.
“I will put my Spirit in you,” means he CAN put the ocean in a goldfish bowl.
Sir, the Gospel of Thomas was written earlier than the other four. Books have even been written that the Gospel of John was written as a rebuttal to the G. of T. Nowhere in the G. of T. does Jesus claim to be God. In it, he wisely claims to be the son of man. The (standard and corrupt) four gospels were set up by the corrupt Roman hierarchy and people have been bamboozled ever since. The historical Christ (as in Thomas) was not at all for organized religion; he was for people standing alone and figuring things out for themselves (in Walt Whitman fashion, for example). But the powerful Romans and their bishop cronies helped to organize it.
(I do not care to discuss this further; good luck in whatever you do.)
Human mind is unlimited their is no boundary, it is fly for unlimited; thoughts, motivation emotions. Mind is super power to govern every one life. Limitation create boundary to mental strength.
Without “attachments” there is nothing to wake up to, sorry
We all have attachments. It’s OK to have some. But also often go beyond the attachments and look without dependency… (that’s all; it need not be complicated). 🙂
OK your explaination was helpful Tom